State Representative Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) is advancing
her agenda for improved transparency and citizen access to government activity
with a House Bill filed in Springfield on February 25.

House Bill 3134 would amend the IL Public Labor Relations
Act, the IL Educational Labor Relations Act and the Open Meetings Act by
requiring that all finalized collective bargaining agreements be posted on
agencies’ public web sites for a minimum of 14 days before any vote to ratify
an agreement can occur. The bill also would require the public or educational
employer to hold a public hearing about the contract after the 14-day posting
period and prior to ratification.

“We have seen too many instances where the public is the
last to know when their tax dollars are spent on contracts that are not in
their best interest,” said Ives. “This bill shines an important light on
publicly-funded contracts and allows taxpayers an adequate amount of time to
read and research proposed collective bargaining agreements before boards are
allowed to approve them.”

According the HB3134, the public posting period and hearing
requirement would also apply to contracts between a public employer and an
employee where total compensation exceeds $150,000. “The public has a right to
know how their tax dollars are being spent, and the provisions of this bill
will go far in improving access to the information.”